Stats for Packers First-Round Pick Eric Stokes

Eric Stokes had four interceptions in 2020. Here's a look at his basic stats and some beyond-the-box-score numbers.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers used their first-round pick on Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes. Here’s a look at Stokes’ three-year career.

Eric Stokes’ Stats at Georgia

Stokes played in 31 games in three seasons. He had zero interceptions and nine passes defensed during each of his first two seasons. In nine games as a junior in 2020, he had four interceptions – including two returned for touchdowns – and four additional breakups for eight passes defensed.

“The first couple years, I was more so worried about technique and scheme,” Stokes said. “This past year, throughout the offseason, quarantine and all this stuff, I made sure I focused in on ball to just be way more comfortable with it.”

That brought his three-year totals to four interceptions and 22 breakups for 26 passes defensed. He added one sack, two tackles for losses and one forced fumble.

Going Beyond the Box Score

According to Pro Football Focus, Stokes allowed 12-of-29 passing, just a 41.4 percent completion rate. There were no free lunches. On passes of 1-to-9 yards, he allowed just two completions out of seven targets.

DB PANIC MODE: STOKES' PENALTIES PAST TWO SEASONS

“He played a lot at Georgia from an early time there and steadily grew as a player,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “The things that really stuck out about him, his explosiveness is off the charts. He's a strong, strong athlete, and I think they do a great job down there at Georgia training those guys. As he continued to play in the SEC, I think you saw his confidence continue to grow and grow and grow. That led him to have the year that he had this year.”

Sports Info Solutions charged him with 10-of-26 passing, just 38.5 percent. In other words, he almost defended as many passes (eight) as he allowed completions (10). He allowed just 109 yards for the season. On a per-game basis, he ranked third in the draft class in completions (1.1) and second in yards (12.1)

“The biggest thing for me is he was making more plays, he was finishing,” said Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy, who studied Stokes in case Stokes graduated in time to be eligible for the all-star showcase. “He was in position to make plays and he made them this year.”

Packers Add 16 Rookies, Including Nine Draft Picks

First round: Georgia CB Eric Stokes

More Stokes: Blown away by more than 40 time

Second round: Ohio State C Josh Myers

More Myers: Stands tall in strong center class

Third round: Clemson WR Amari Rodgers

More Rodgers: Gutekunst loses trade but wins player he coveted

Fourth round: Ole Miss OL Royce Newman

Fifth round: Florida DT Tedarrell Slaton

Fifth round: Appalachian State CB Shemar Jean-Charles

Sixth round: Wisconsin OL Cole Van Lanen

Sixth round: Boston College LB Isaiah McDuffie

Seventh round: Mississippi State RB Kylin Hill

Undrafted: Wisconsin OL Jon Dietzen

Undrafted: Iowa OL Coy Cronk

Undrafted: San Jose State WR Bailey Gaither

Undrafted: San Diego State OL Jacob Capra

Undrafted: Michigan OLB Carlo Kemp

Undrafted: Illinois State S Christian Uphoff

Undrafted: Iowa DT Jack Heflin


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Bill Huber
BILL HUBER

Bill Huber, who has covered the Green Bay Packers since 2008, is the publisher of Packers On SI, a Sports Illustrated channel. E-mail: packwriter2002@yahoo.com History: Huber took over Packer Central in August 2019. Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillHuberNFL Background: Huber graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he played on the football team, in 1995. He worked in newspapers in Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells and Shawano before working at The Green Bay News-Chronicle and Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1998 through 2008. With The News-Chronicle, he won several awards for his commentaries and page design. In 2008, he took over as editor of Packer Report Magazine, which was founded by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke, and PackerReport.com. In 2019, he took over the new Sports Illustrated site Packer Central, which he has grown into one of the largest sites in the Sports Illustrated Media Group.